Warriors rookie Akindele not quite center of attention

Deji Akindele practiced with the Warriors on Tuesday afternoon. It was an event so insignificant, so inconsequential to their preparation for tonight's preseason home opener, the only thing that stood out was his very presence.

"I'm still here," Akindele said. "I guess it's not my time yet."

A day after Golden State made its first roster cut by waiving fellow center Mamadou N'diaye, Akindele was happy just to be around. Akindele, a 7-foot-1, 240-pounder, doesn't want his camp experience to end, much like the team's other roster hopefuls, but his reasons are fairly unique.

This is only his third year playing basketball and third living in the United States. Akindele was born in the soccer kingdom of Nigeria, where he excelled at the sport and had visions of a pro career. But his father worked as a pharmacist in Chicago and his mother traveled between the two countries.

Akindele, who was raised by six older sisters in Lagos, knew the only way to join his parents was through a basketball scholarship. Chicago State was intrigued by his size and gave him a spot.

So in 2003, Akindele suited up for his first organized basketball game.

"I didn't know how to play," Akindele recalled, "but they threw me out there because it was a mid-major school and I was the biggest person on the team. I messed up, but I got myself together."

After bumbling through his freshman season, Akindele spent the summer working out with Tim Grover, the former personal trainer for Michael Jordan. Grover whipped him into shape and Akindele returned for his sophomore season a self-described "monster."

The scouts attending his season opener against UCLA, though, barely got a glimpse of him as Akindele fouled out in four minutes.

His final stat line? Zero points, one rebound.

The center regrouped with career-highs of 28 points and 21 rebounds the following game, and finished the season averaging 12 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. He left Chicago State as its all-time leading shot-blocker with 132 despite playing only two years.

Akindele went undrafted this summer and has appeared in one game for the Warriors this preseason: a four-minute stint against the Lakers. He made both shots he took, and recorded four points and one rebound.

With N'diaye gone, Akindele figures to get a few more minutes to impress the Warriors, who still aren't sure what they have in him.

"Dej is like a piece of clay -- he doesn't have any shape yet," coach Mike Montgomery said Tuesday. "He's just a young pup. He's got some athletic activity, got some bounce, so you'd like to see what he can learn in this situation.

"We'll give Dej a little more opportunity to see what he can do."

Briefly: Jason Richardson was back at practice after missing Saturday's road game for personal reasons. He is expected to start tonight. ... Baron Davis, who Montgomery said had a sore hamstring, was held out of practice and spent most of the afternoon being stretched out by trainers. "Especially with his history of injuries, we've got to let his body tell us what he can do and what he can't do," Montgomery said. ... The Warriors will hold an open practice from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Arena on Friday. Parking and admission are free.